Valve



March 10 1931. c. a. HEINSMAN VALVE Filed April 9 1930 *2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6- Bhli e fimm ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CALEB B. HEINSMA'N, 0F PEOZRIA, ILLINOIS VALVE Application filed April 9, 1930. Serial No. 442,924.

15 spray nozzles when the nozzles are subjected to heat from a fire in the vicinity thereof, the nozzles being of that type in which the fusing of an element thereof will efi'ect automatic opening of the nozzle and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide, in a control means for the purpose stated a novel combination and arrangement ofvalves by which water will not be present in the water conducting pipe or pipes with which the spray nozzles are associated, under normal conditions, so as to provide for a more certain fusing of the elements of the spray nozzles, referred to above, than would be practicable than if the said pipe and these nozzles were filled with water.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic control mechanism in which the component parts are so constructed and arranged that there will beno liability of displacement of any of the parts and also the invention contemplates a control which will becertain in its action;

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood of course that minor changes may be made so long as they fall within the scope of the claim. 7

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the control apparatus embodying the invention, both valves of the apparatus being closed and the component parts of the apparatus being therefore in their normal positions.

Figure 2 is a similar view but illustrating the valves in the open position which they will I assume in the event of fusing of any of the spray nozzles.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4- 1 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is, a detail view illustrating the sprinkler head.

The apparatus embodying the invention comprises a hollow, cylindrical casing indicated by the numeral 1 and provided, preferably, with a removable top indicated by the numeral 2 and a preferably integral bottom indicated by the numeral 3. A water supply pipe 4 is provided at the closed bottom 3 of the casing and is supplied with water from a main, the water being of course under pressure. In the operation of the apparatus, wa-

ter is delivered to the sprinkler main, which F is indicated by the numeral 5, and the intake end of this main is threaded into a nipple 6 formed centrally of the top 2 of the casing, sprinkler heads 7 being arranged at suitable intervals in the length of the sprinkler pipe 5 and this pipe being led in any desired direction and of any desired length and the sprinkler heads being spaced as may be found most desirable in the length thereof. As these sprinkler heads are of a well known type in which the fusing of an element thereof serves to automatically permit opening of the valve of the head for the passage of water from the head, any further description of the same is thought to be unnecessary.

In order to normally prevent supply, of water from the casing 1 to the sprinkler pipe 5, a novel valve arrangement is installed in the casing 1 and will now be described. Preferably a valve seat 8 is provided at the point of communication of the water supply pipe 4 with the casing and a valve 9'normally rests upon this seat, the valve having a tubular stem 10 which fits slidably through an opening 11 in a. spider 12 located within the pipe 4.

A head 13 is provided upon the lower end of the stem 10 and, by engagement against the spider, as shown in Figure 2, is adapted to limit the upward movement of the valve 9.

As water under pressure is, as before stated,

supplied through the pipe 4:, the tendency will be for the valve 9 to move to open position, but this is avoided by the employment of av second valve unit which comprises an annular valve seat l l which is of a diameter to fit within the cylindrical casing 1 and is provided in its periphery with a circumscribing groove 15 in which apacking ring 16, preferably of rubber is seated, so as to contact with the casing wall to prevent the flow of water past the valve seat'when the a 1 valve which is associated with the seat is in.

closed position. The valve seat 4: is supported by arms 17 which are arranged in upwardly diverging relation to one another and formed or secured'at theirlower ends to the upper side of the valve head 9, andat their upperiend to. the. under. sideof the seat 14.

The valve which, as stated above, is associated withfthe valve seat, is indicated by the numeral- 18 and is provided with a stem 19 which projects both above and below the valve and; preferably, the lower end of the stem is of a diameter to fit slidably in the hollow valvestem' 10 and its portion which extends above the valve 18 fits slidably through an opening formed in'the hub of'aspider 21, the/arms ofwhich radiate from the said head 20- and are united at lation: to one another.

their'lower and outer. ends to the valve seat 1 1 near the periphery thereof and in 'zsufficiently. spaced relation with respect to the upper side of the valve seat to permit o'fmovement of the valve to the open 'position'shown in Figure 2, thesearms 21 anditherefore, the valve normally assuming ajlowered orclbsed position, the compressed air: w1ll be trapped :in the caslng. fib0V8',il1G valve. The pressure of air against the valve,

in a downward direction, exerts pressure against the valve seat 14, and as thisseat is connected with the valve.;9, it will be evident that the valve 9will be securely heldin the closed pOSltlOII. In the event ofthe outbreak of a fire in proximity to any of the sprinkler heads 7- and the fusing of the thermostatic element of the-head, air will first escape through the head, and, due to the reduction of pressure in the casing 1 above the valve 18 andthe pressure'exerted in an upward direction against *the valve 9 by the water,

under pressure in the valve 4, the valve 9 will be opened andas it opens, it will move the valve seat l4=upwardly in the casing and,

.pipe 4- as the air at all times, within the casingabove the valve 18 and in the pipe 5,'is atsubstantially atmospheric pressure, the valve 18 will of course be elevated'to open osition due to the inrush of the water un er pressure against the valve 9 and the water will then pass throughthe pipe 5 and be delivered .in a spray through'such of the s rinkler heads as have their thermostatic e ements fused, and this spray will be continuous so long as water under'pressure issupplied' through the Means will of course be provided whereby the; supply ofwater under pressure to the pipe 4 may be cutoff but as this does not constitute apart of the present invention no such means has rbeenspecifically illustrated in the drawings. It will be evident however, that,due to the provision of a drain opening in thee-Wall of the casing 1, which opening is indicated by the:numeral'24,.water may be drained from the upper portion of the casing, of in other words, fromthe space above the valve'18 by removing a-plug 25'which-normally closedthe drainopening In'order that the condition of the parts as well as the water" level in. the lowerportion o-fthe casing may be observed from time to time, the casingis provided with upper and lower hollow bosses 26Jeach having an opening 27 in its outer side closed by a removableplug 28 and by removing either. ofthese plugs, the corresponding portion of the interior of the casing maybe inspected. v The opening 27in the upper boss likewise permits of the insertion of a tool or rodthrough this opening'in order" to dislodge .the valve seat 14;.or valve 18 in the event these parts may not have fully lowered upon the continuationof the supply of water under pressure. 7

Wheel claim is r V In an automatic control for a fire eXtinguishing system ofthe class described, a casing having an-inletin its top for the admis sion' of air under pressure, and an inlet in its bottom for the 1 admission of water under pressure, avalve Within the casing normallyclosingthe water inlet, a valve seat fitting slidably inthe casing, means connecting the said seat with the said valve, means forlim-v iting the movement of said valve-and seat, a second-valve'resting {upon the valve seat and-movable with relation thereto and normallydividing the; casing into chambers to be filled One-with compressed air and the other with water underpressure, a tubular stem extending upwardly from the first mentioned valve, and a stem mounted on said second mentioned valve and, including a portion extending below and above the second mentioned valve, the'lowerportion of the last mentioned istem fitting slidabl-y in thetubular stem ofthe first mentioned valve, a guiding. head supported by the valve seat in elevated position above the second mentioned valve, the upward extension of the second mentioned stern portion extending slidably through and guided by said guiding head, and an outlet leading from the top of the casing for connection with a sprinkler system of the type to be rendered active upon fusing of an element thereof, whereby, upon opening of the system, release of pressure in the upper chamber will permit opening of both of said valves to provide for flow of Water to the sprinkler system.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CALEB B. HEINSMAN. 

